Since I’ve arrived at the home here,
I have had several sleepless nights. For some reason my mind wouldn’t stop
thinking of everything and anything. Part of it could be because I’m so close
to the end of the race, and I wasn’t sure what I would be doing after it…but
now I do… (blog coming soon).
I have had several sleepless nights. For some reason my mind wouldn’t stop
thinking of everything and anything. Part of it could be because I’m so close
to the end of the race, and I wasn’t sure what I would be doing after it…but
now I do… (blog coming soon).
But one of the things I thought
about a lot was what part of the sex trade did I want to focus on? Some people
say that it’s best to focus on one aspect, prevention, intervention or
restoration.
about a lot was what part of the sex trade did I want to focus on? Some people
say that it’s best to focus on one aspect, prevention, intervention or
restoration.
The statistics point towards the more logical and cost
effective approach to be prevention. It costs at least 5 times as much to care
for a girl taken from the sex trade, than to prevent her from entering into it.
Also 9 out of 10 girls go back to the sex trade because they have been so
scarred mentally, emotionally, and physically.
But I wonder where these stats are
coming from. Has Jesus been a factor in the restoration process of these
statistics?
coming from. Has Jesus been a factor in the restoration process of these
statistics?
I know that I will be a part of the prevention side, especially after staying
here in the orphanage. But God confirmed my next step in the fight against the
sex trade,last night. Let me tell you what happened.
here in the orphanage. But God confirmed my next step in the fight against the
sex trade,last night. Let me tell you what happened.
I was laying in my bottom bunk bed,
and I overheard some of the other girls chatting, and random buzzing noises
from the large (disgusting) cecada bugs outside… but I also heard a faint
sniffle. I sat up in bed, trying to figure out if it was someone crying, or
someone who was sick. When I sat up in bed, it seemed that the sniffling
stopped. So I laid back down.
and I overheard some of the other girls chatting, and random buzzing noises
from the large (disgusting) cecada bugs outside… but I also heard a faint
sniffle. I sat up in bed, trying to figure out if it was someone crying, or
someone who was sick. When I sat up in bed, it seemed that the sniffling
stopped. So I laid back down.
But then a couple minutes later, I
heard it again. I sat up in bed, and tried to use what little night vision I
had to examine each bed and find the mysterious sniffler.
heard it again. I sat up in bed, and tried to use what little night vision I
had to examine each bed and find the mysterious sniffler.
She happened to be on the top bunk
right next to me. I got up and started stroking her hair and God urged me to start singing songs of His love and peace over her. The girl across from her said that she was
crying because she missed her mom.
right next to me. I got up and started stroking her hair and God urged me to start singing songs of His love and peace over her. The girl across from her said that she was
crying because she missed her mom.
That hit home.
I continued to pray and sing over
her and soothe her. God’s peace enveloped her and she finally settled down and
went to sleep.
her and soothe her. God’s peace enveloped her and she finally settled down and
went to sleep.
But as I laid in my bed, I couldn’t
help but think so many things like “Is it really best for this girl to be here,
and not be with her mother?� “How painful it is to not be with your mom.�
help but think so many things like “Is it really best for this girl to be here,
and not be with her mother?� “How painful it is to not be with your mom.�
But then I started to remember that
the girls here have the opportunity to go back to their homes during summer
breaks. They aren’t snatched from their parents. And also, only girls who are
at serious risk of entering the sex trade are taken in. There are interviews
made, witnesses brought in, it’s a very serious and lengthy process.
the girls here have the opportunity to go back to their homes during summer
breaks. They aren’t snatched from their parents. And also, only girls who are
at serious risk of entering the sex trade are taken in. There are interviews
made, witnesses brought in, it’s a very serious and lengthy process.
So obviously this girl was at
serious risk of being sold to a sex broker. But now she has an opportunity to
have three meals a day, a roof over her head, and get a quality education to
help her family in an honest, and self esteem boosting, living one day. She has
a chance to live an innocent 12 year old, Christ love filled life.
serious risk of being sold to a sex broker. But now she has an opportunity to
have three meals a day, a roof over her head, and get a quality education to
help her family in an honest, and self esteem boosting, living one day. She has
a chance to live an innocent 12 year old, Christ love filled life.
SO that thought got squashed….
But then another thought entered my
mind.
mind.
What about the thousands of girls in
the sex trade who go to sleep every night crying. Feeling hopeless. Who miss
their innocence. Whose bodies ache because of the abuse that they go through.
Whose hearts are shattered and torn because of the countless broken promises
and sweet nothings said to them in exchange for a sexual favor.
the sex trade who go to sleep every night crying. Feeling hopeless. Who miss
their innocence. Whose bodies ache because of the abuse that they go through.
Whose hearts are shattered and torn because of the countless broken promises
and sweet nothings said to them in exchange for a sexual favor.
Who is there to comfort them? Who is
there to pray over them? Who is there to sing songs of deliverance over them?
there to pray over them? Who is there to sing songs of deliverance over them?
Tears filled my eyes as I started to
think of the countless girls in the sex trade who are looking for a way out,
but are STUCK.
think of the countless girls in the sex trade who are looking for a way out,
but are STUCK.
I knew God was confirming that I
need to be a part of the intervention and restoration for this next season of
my life.
need to be a part of the intervention and restoration for this next season of
my life.
I pray one day intervention won’t be
needed because of the prevention that is underway. But right now it is needed.
needed because of the prevention that is underway. But right now it is needed.
Though this route is much more
difficult, and much more costly… I will be obedient to the call.
difficult, and much more costly… I will be obedient to the call.
I may be considered foolish, or
perhaps naïve…but statistics don’t intimidate me!
perhaps naïve…but statistics don’t intimidate me!
My God is GREATER, BIGGER, and
STRONGER than statistics.
STRONGER than statistics.
His LOVE is LIFE-TRANSFORMING
HIS POWER IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
I believe in a God who is fully able
to redeem and restore a life that is broken and desperate for change. He is
MORE than able.
to redeem and restore a life that is broken and desperate for change. He is
MORE than able.
“God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or
guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us
around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within
us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”
-“Ephesians 3:20-21(msg)
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
